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Post by macca on Feb 19, 2020 19:37:09 GMT
Yep sometimes it is the laser, I agree, but there are shitload of things that can go wrong with a cd player. And if the laser is fine pissing about with it at random can only potentially damage it.
Anyway speaking of which I've now realised why this Sony ES got retired. It drops out occasionally, not skipping, total silence just for a split second. Doesn't do it often but once is too much. So it looks like a choice between the creamy, glittery Marantz CD54, the even creamier, even glittery-er Marantz CD67SE or the Pioneer DVD player.
Pioneer it is then.
Have to say that you can in a lot of ways hear that the X505ES is a really serious bit of kit. In some ways makes the QS sound like a toy. The only other player I have that does this is the Technics SLP1200. The weight and authority is greater. But with the QS in the system I had that proper delicate, filigree, rice paper whatever top end. Like you get with a really good MC cartridge. The ES is drier, more mundane-sounding.
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Post by macca on Feb 21, 2020 18:02:44 GMT
Got the old Pioneer in, it's a DVD565-A  Yes I know what you're thinking and you're right, no self respecting audiophile would have this as their source. Good job I'm not an audiophile and have no self respect then.  However I would not want to have to tell this player apart from the two Sonys that proceeded it in a blind test. Maybe I could but I wouldn't be putting any money down. It's maybe got a bit more sparkle than the Sony ES and it isn't quite as smooth as the QS effort (which is a SACD player too...say no more). But anyway seems to work okay - touch wood. |
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 21, 2020 18:10:25 GMT
I've got one of those 565A players - I find it a bit bright and forward as a CD transport.
It also has issues with its drawer mech. I may already have thrown it away, not sure where it is atm!
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Post by macca on Feb 21, 2020 18:18:28 GMT
I used this a lot as my cd player a few years ago, before that it was on DVD duties so it has a lot of hours on it. Think they were about £250 when they came out. I bought it as a bin-end for £170 in about 2002. Never found it too bright just used with its own DAC. I'll try and sort out my Parasound player at the weekend. It's got a disc stuck in it.
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Post by macca on Feb 21, 2020 21:36:28 GMT
Okay so after an extended listen the Pioneer is a bit of a step down from the Sonys. Just a little soft, gets a bit murky on a busy mix. Some times it impresses, sometimes it disappoints. More than good enough to enjoy the music, and I have, but some way off what is possible.
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 21, 2020 21:57:53 GMT
Okay so after an extended listen the Pioneer is a bit of a step down from the Sonys. Just a little soft, gets a bit murky on a busy mix. Some times it impresses, sometimes it disappoints. More than good enough to enjoy the music, and I have, but some way off what is possible. So what's the plan? Newer CDP?? |
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Post by jimbo on Feb 21, 2020 22:01:50 GMT
Okay so after an extended listen the Pioneer is a bit of a step down from the Sonys. Just a little soft, gets a bit murky on a busy mix. Some times it impresses, sometimes it disappoints. More than good enough to enjoy the music, and I have, but some way off what is possible. So what's the plan? Newer CDP?? He needs a slice of Pi |
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 21, 2020 22:04:06 GMT
So what's the plan? Newer CDP?? He needs a slice of Pi Hahaha, well obviously but Macca ain't a file based consumer |
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Post by macca on Feb 21, 2020 22:55:46 GMT
It's going to have to be one of the Marantzs next. I'll give the 67SE a run out I think. It's just a jazzed up Phillips so maybe there will be synergy with the power amp...
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 21, 2020 23:14:07 GMT
It's going to have to be one of the Marantzs next. I'll give the 67SE a run out I think. It's just a jazzed up Phillips so maybe there will be synergy with the power amp... Maybe but I can see you making a purchase sooner rather than later 😉 |
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Post by macca on Feb 22, 2020 8:49:22 GMT
I don't know what I'm going to do. I don't want to accumulate more cd players. They're piled up in drifts as it is. Hopefully the Tascam will be back from the shop this week.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 22, 2020 9:55:49 GMT
Cor blimey, guvnor. Clear out all the old tat and get some kit that works!
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Post by macca on Feb 22, 2020 10:23:27 GMT
Just had a trawl through ebay but there's a lot of tat and a few decent offerings for stupid money.
Apparently broken, bottom of the line cd players from the late 1990s are still worth thirty to forty quid plus another twenty for delivery. Who knew? I'm sitting on a fortune here.
Richer Sounds still have a surprisingly large selection of new players though.
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 22, 2020 10:29:58 GMT
Just had a trawl through ebay but there's a lot of tat and a few decent offerings for stupid money. Apparently broken, bottom of the line cd players from the late 1990s are still worth thirty to forty quid plus another twenty for delivery. Who knew? I'm sitting on a fortune here. Richer Sounds still have a surprisingly large selection of new players though. may I make a rather bonkers suggestion? Find a super cheap transport like one of those Pioneer DVD player that had great spdif outs and then chuck a Topping DAC into the mix A D70 would surpass all your desires I feel. Take it as an opportunity to upgrade? |
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Post by firebottle on Feb 22, 2020 10:34:05 GMT
^^^^ this.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2020 10:48:54 GMT
Just had a trawl through ebay but there's a lot of tat and a few decent offerings for stupid money. Apparently broken, bottom of the line cd players from the late 1990s are still worth thirty to forty quid plus another twenty for delivery. Who knew? I'm sitting on a fortune here. Richer Sounds still have a surprisingly large selection of new players though. There’s a lovely gold Denon 1520 on EBay. They are decent players, superbly built and the most you will likely need to do is change the belts. |
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Post by macca on Feb 22, 2020 10:51:17 GMT
I've got one of those Pioneer players already - but it's faulty.
If I was going to buy a DAC I'd go for the RME ADI2 rather than the Topping. Can't actually find the D70 for sale in the UK except on eBay, and apparently there are fakes knocking about.
Anyway my previous experience of stand alone DACs indicated that there's not really any improvement to be had, just a slight change in presentation. Not worth splashing out a monkey for IMO.
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Post by macca on Feb 22, 2020 10:53:16 GMT
Just had a trawl through ebay but there's a lot of tat and a few decent offerings for stupid money. Apparently broken, bottom of the line cd players from the late 1990s are still worth thirty to forty quid plus another twenty for delivery. Who knew? I'm sitting on a fortune here. Richer Sounds still have a surprisingly large selection of new players though. There’s a lovely gold Denon 1520 on EBay. They are decent players, superbly built and the most you will likely need to do is change the belts. Aye but collection only. From Hertfordshire. EDIT - that's not a gold one though, can't find a gold one. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2020 10:56:52 GMT
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Post by macca on Feb 22, 2020 11:12:10 GMT
'Titanium' it says. Looks silver to me - bit pricey though. I try to keep my random CD player punts under a hundred squid. |
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 22, 2020 11:17:21 GMT
Ok, your experience of stand alone DACs didn't give you the feel to take the leap...
When was this done and with what?
I think dacs have actually moved quite a step forward in the last couple of years. I know you dont, but im just suggesting there is a possibility you might be surprised
I have seen a Topping D50 for sale somewhere.
It might just be worth a punt if you already have a transport
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2020 11:19:09 GMT
'Titanium' it says. Looks silver to me - bit pricey though. I try to keep my random CD player punts under a hundred squid. I must admit the price is a bit strong. They were thought to be better than the Sonys which fetch £400 these days though. The Sonys are fashionable due to being talked up on forums (IMHO) whilst the Denon isn’t. Pity you weren’t closer to Dave (DSJR) so you could see/hear one. |
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Post by macca on Feb 22, 2020 11:32:54 GMT
I'm going to have another go at getting the stuck disc out of the Parasound CDP1000. Wish me luck.
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 22, 2020 11:33:20 GMT
'Titanium' it says. Looks silver to me - bit pricey though. I try to keep my random CD player punts under a hundred squid. I must admit the price is a bit strong. They were thought to be better than the Sonys which fetch £400 these days though. The Sonys are fashionable due to being talked up on forums (IMHO) whilst the Denon isn’t. Pity you weren’t closer to Dave (DSJR) so you could see/hear one. Best sounding CDP I've heard was a Denon but that's because it had a slightly warmer sound than the paint stripping Sony I had at the time. |
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 22, 2020 11:33:33 GMT
I'm going to have another go at getting the stuck disc out of the Parasound CDP1000. Wish me luck. Good luck! |
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Post by macca on Feb 22, 2020 14:11:28 GMT
No joy. Buggered if I can see how to detach the laser sled.
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 22, 2020 17:37:17 GMT
No joy. Buggered if I can see how to detach the laser sled. Oh man.... |
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Post by dsjr on Feb 22, 2020 17:43:49 GMT
'Titanium' it says. Looks silver to me - bit pricey though. I try to keep my random CD player punts under a hundred squid. My good God!!! Is that how much 1520's now go for? Amazing how estimations are increased when the residual price goes up. Mine's in black though, so too common to even begin to fetch that kind of money. Very solid machines though and put together with dozens of screws plus extra thick plates under the top cover. Mine has a remote and yeah, the belts needed replacing as well as the laser 'sled' and runners cleaning. Easily jogged though, so careful siting is pre-requisite (I don't think laser ageing has anything to do with it though). |
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Post by macca on Feb 24, 2020 19:44:48 GMT
So in goes the Marantz CD67Se. They look pretty good in a photo:  But no-one does tacky plastic tat like Marantz/Phillips did in the 1990s and this is really quite nasty close up. Even though cosmetically mine is pretty mint. Maybe they spent the budget on sound quality then? No...not really. If you are the sort who prefers vinyl/analogue then you might like this one more than me. All the major parts of the music are painted in bold strokes so it is quite a lively listen. But my first thought as soon as the first song started was that it felt like some thing was missing and that was borne out. There's no low level detail, like hearing the recording space around the instruments, or any of that sort of thing here. And 'all the hard corners are rounded off', as Westie put it the other day. This is digital for people who don't like digital. Or was digital for people who didn't like digital a couple of decades back anyway. It would probably sound quite balanced with a Cyrus 2 into some Proac Tablettes, or a Naim NAIT into Linn Kans, but it ain't 1997 anymore. In short - as I suspected - I prefer the Pioneer. Might give the CD54 a run out just for the sake of it. I recall it being a lot better than this 67SE. |
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Post by macca on Mar 1, 2020 13:55:51 GMT
Decided to skip the CD54 and put Big Bertha back in, forgot how good this thing is. Not reached track 6 yet so lets see if it is still playing up. Or not playing as the case may be. I figure if it does keep stopping after the 6th track I can always select track 7 manually and carry on - no different from having to turn a record over half way through. Need to find the remote!  |
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